The Association of D-dimer and Spontaneous Hemorrhagic Ascites with Outcomes in Cirrhosis: a Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND

Cirrhotic patients with hemorrhagic ascites have significant morbidity and mortality. This study aims to determine the relationship between D-dimer values and hemorrhagic ascites in cirrhotic patients and analyze its predictive value.

METHODS

This retrospective study screened 572 consecutive cirrhotic patients with ascites and hemorrhagic ascites (defined as red blood cells (RBC) in ascitic fluid ≥ 10,000/µL) during a 72-month period. The overall patient survival rate was measured by Kaplan-Meier analysis method. The relationship between D-dimer and hemorrhagic ascites was also examined. A multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed to assess the indepen-dent risk factors related to mortality.

RESULTS

Both control group and hemorrhagic ascites patients had obvious hepatic dysfunction as determined by Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores of 6.37 ± 1.05 and 11.82 ± 2.86, respectively (p < 0.001). There was a higher prevalence of patients with significant ascites in those with spontaneous hemorrhagic ascites than in the control group (p = 0.003). There were significant differences in D-dimer levels between both groups (9.44 ± 5.11 vs. 26.83 ± 5.35, p < 0.001). Hemorrhagic ascites was significantly and positively correlated with D-dimer levels (r = 0.692, p < 0.0001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.9838. Using Cox proportional hazard model for multivariate prognostic analysis, MELD, D-dimer and presence of spontaneous hemorrhagic ascites were independent predictors of 3-year mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with hemorrhagic ascites had a significantly higher MELD score, D-dimer, and mortality than patients with ascites alone. D-dimer was associated with the appearance of hemorrhagic ascites and was found to be a marker of advanced liver disease and poor outcomes.